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Thursday, October 20, 2016

Tungsten - One of the toughest metals - Why might it break?

One of the most frustrating things is to order something claiming to be the toughest metal on earth, and have the ring crack when you drop it on the kitchen tiles. Why does this happen? Is it a poor quality ring? Not necessarily. Tungsten rings can crack or break because the harder a material is, the more brittle it becomes. There is no give in the metal, no space for the metal to bend a little. Tungsten rings are made from one of the hardest metal known to man, it is true. They are nearly impossible to dent, scratch, or bend. However, Tungsten rings can shatter when enough force is applied to them because instead of bending like a softer metal like gold does, tungsten has to break.

Tungsten Rings have now become the metal of choice for many grooms across America. One of the main reasons men choose tungsten carbide rings is because they are touted as the toughest metal in the world. They resist scratching much better than any other metal out in the marketplace. Many people take this to mean the rings are indestructible. So when a tungsten ring is dropped on a hard surface and it breaks or cracks, they are surprised.

Reputable jewelers who sell tungsten wedding bands will never tell you tungsten rings can’t break or are indestructible. There are similar examples, diamonds are the hardest material on Earth, even harder than tungsten. Nothing can scratch a diamond except another diamond. Many people think this means diamonds are indestructible, but that is not true. Diamonds cannot be scratched, but they can be broken. If you take a hammer to a diamond, it will chip or crack.

Gold is a softer metal and it will bend if dealt with force, not break. It can scratch easily and we can even bend it easily with tools. Some might call this its weakness, but it could be a benefit as well. There is no such thing as a perfect metal. You have to decide, based on your lifestyle, preferences, and budget, what is best for your situation. If you prefer a ring that will not scratch easily when you are working with your hands, then tungsten is a metal that will stand up to hard work. If you want a ring that has some flexibility and give to change in the situation, then gold is the way to go.

How can you protect yourself against accidentally breaking your tungsten ring? Make sure you purchase your tungsten ring from a reputable jeweler like Unique Tungsten Rings that offers a lifetime warranty, which will cover your ring against damage at no cost. Many jewelers know tungsten rings have the possibility of breaking in their lifetime, so we offer a lifetime warranty on all our rings. While we hate to see it happen, we know life throws challenges and sometimes rings will be exposed to situations that will cause them to crack. We will happily replace any ring for the duration of the owner's lifetime, at no charge.